Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
This report examines the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in adults in England in 2017. Prevalence levels are compared by age, sex, region and household income as well as other health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension. Use of medicines for prevention is also examined.
Highlights
- In 2017, 14% of adults aged 16 and over, 15% of men and 13% of women, reported ever having any doctor-diagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD). This was at a very similar level in 2011 (14% of men and 13% of women).
- More men than women suffered from ischaemic heart disease (6% and 3% respectively) and from stroke (3% and 2% respectively).
- CVD was more prevalent in lower income households. 22% of adults aged 35 and over in the lowest income quintile and 16% in the highest income quintile reported any CVD.
- Based on the EQ-5D questionnaire, 31% of adults aged 35 and over with IHD or stroke reported at least one severe health problem, compared with 14% of those who reported diagnosed diabetes or hypertension (but no IHD or stroke) and 8% of those with none of these conditions.
- Among people aged 35 and over with any CVD condition, 60% of men and 38% of women were taking prescribed lipid-lowering medicines, and 43% of men and 23% of women were taking prescribed antiplatelet medicines.
Download the tables for this report here.